I used to live in Birch Bay. It's a beautiful arching cove of sandy beach, several miles long, that's perfect for walking during low tide - which can range out for a quarter mile or more. It's a great dog beach.
But as Bill says, there is literally nothing to do, especially in October. The main tourist shops will be closed for the season, and the weather can be dicey in October. That's when our Fall storms hit, and it can be a toss-up of beautiful weather, or windy, rainy, and cold. Do not come to Birch Bay expecting perfect beach weather. But do come if you want to do other things in the area, and enjoy the beach as best you can.
Having said that, Birch Bay is gorgeous, relatively unspoiled, and close to a lot of things. It's five miles west of Interstate 5 exit 270. And day trips from there in several directions are very easy.
If you've always wanted to visit Vancouver but want to stay on the U.S. side of the border, it's a perfect location. Staying in a newer building, as Bill reports, would make it a nice place to stay. Just be sure to bring a windbreaker and your own evening-hour fun.
Food for thought: If you can visit there mid-September instead, you'll probably have a MUCH better time. The middle two weeks of September are arguably the best weather of the year up here. Crowds are down, kids are back in school, and the weather can be incredible.
Dave
